Date & Time: Sunday, March 10, 9:45 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Spots: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Kotoku-in Temple (The Great Buddha) , Hasedera Temple
Visitors: 2 Taiwanese families, father and mother (60s), older sister and younger brother (30s), younger brother mother’s side and his wife (50s)
Attendant: 2 KSGG members
Language: Chinese
This tour started with a big surprise, that is, the families happened to be interviewed for a TV program in front of early-blooming cherry trees on Wakamiya-Oji Street. After the interview, they proceeded to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. Mr.Kou with his electric wheelchair was at the head of the families. A Shinto wedding ceremony held on Maiden stage seemed to impress Mr.Chin’s single daughter and son. They enthusiastically requested the translation of marriage luck written on Omikuji (fortune telling paper). They enjoyed themselves eating ice cream, seasoned beans, grilled skewer and senbei (Japanese rice cracker) on Komachi Dori Street. During lunch time at a barrier-free Soba Noodle restaurant, Mr. Kou had his wheelchair battery charged by the restaurant-staff. On Enoshima Dentetsu Train, from Kamakura Station to Hase Station, the father using his stick had various kinds of topics to talk about. They prayed devoutly in front of Great Buddha at Kotoku-in Temple. After we looked at the inside of the Buddha, they ate soft ice cream. The wife was interested in the difference between Kannon Bodhisattva and Amitabha Tathagata at Hasedera Temple. They wanted to eat Dorayaki (2 pieces of Japanese pancake with black-bean paste), and finally got it near Hase Station, which made them smile happily. At the end of the tour, I saw them off at Kamakura Station. They took the green car to secure their seats to Ueno Station. I received a heartfelt thank-you message from them in the evening.
A new city ordinance came into force from this April on. It prohibits walking while eating in crowded places. We should keep it in mind when guiding.